INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Irsay's family and the Indianapolis Colts started the Kicking the Stigma campaign in 2020.
The goal is to raise awareness about mental health and removing the stigma often associated with mental health disorders to promote healing.
Irsay has said his grandfather and his father both died of alcoholism. The Colts owner has also been public about his own addiction and recovery.
According to the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder, around 500,000 Hoosiers — or one in 12 — meet the criteria for substance use disorder.
"We want people to know that recovery is possible. There is hope," said Juan Wilson, executive director of NuLife Behavioral Health in Fishers.
Wilson said there are a host of challenges when it comes to addiction and recovery, and it's not as easy as shutting off a light switch.
"I think as a society, we're starting to fundamentally understand that it's not just a moral failing, that it truly is a disorder, and so I think there's much more empathy and compassion for those that we're serving today, which kind of reduces that stigma on them because they certainly already experience enough of their own, the self-induced stigma with a lot of the shame and guilt and remorse," Wilson said.
Wilson said challenges run the gamut.
"Addiction, mental illness, it does not discriminate. We are practicing in a very affluent community, and I can certainly tell you that it's very prevalent within this community, so socioeconomics is not a factor whatsoever," Wilson said.
Wilson said there are a number challenges people face.
"Oftentimes, there's a number of financial barriers, transportation, sometimes, there's the ambivalence," Wilson said. Sometimes, we experience clients that come into our care by way of the criminal justice system, so they kind of lack motivation for wanting to change some of those maladaptive behaviors."
Wilson said he wants people to know there are a number of resources to help.
"There is no shame in being where you're at. We completely understand and are empathetic to the number of challenges that they're facing. We're there to support you along that journey," Wilson said.
Looking for help?
If you or someone you know may be in need of treatment or addiction services, you can call 211 from an Indiana area code or visit them on their website for more help.
Nationally, you can access resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration here, on the SAMHSA National Helpline (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) at 800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY 800-487-4889. It's a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service in English and Spanish for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups and community-based organizations.
You can also visit the online treatment locator, or send your zip code via text message to 435748 (HELP4U) to find help near you. Read more about the HELP4U text messaging service here.
IU Health offers virtual and in-person treatment for drug or alcohol addiction in Indianapolis and the surrounding areas. For more information, visit them on their website.